Hi everyone,
I’ve consistently faced syncing issues with my AirPlay speakers when using Roon. Initially, I had a mix of HomePods and other AirPlay speakers, but they were always out of sync. Thinking that using all HomePods would solve this, I made the switch, but the problem persists. Interestingly, this issue doesn’t occur when I stream directly from my iPhone via AirPlay 2 on Apple Music or Qobuz. Using ARC at home works well as it seems to use the same AirPlay 2 path from my iPhone, but this feels like a workaround, though it’s in stereo mode, which is a plus. Listening to Keith Jarrett in Roon, for example, feels like a nightmare. The music sounds like it’s coming from an untuned piano.
I’m puzzled why this latency or gap happens only with Roon (not ARC). I’ve tried DSP, but it’s confusing and ineffective for grouped AirPlay speakers. Does it really work for grouped AirPlay speakers?
I understand the recommendations for RAAT over AirPlay, but HomePods offer good value, and simplicity matters. While I love Roon’s interface, its poor integration with AirPlay is disappointing. I believe many would appreciate better AirPlay support in Roon.
For now, ARC is a decent alternative, surpassing other streaming apps, but why can’t Roon offer the same?
Thanks!